Summarize the Baptist belief of speaking in tongues.

Taking St. Paul's counsel in 1 Corinthians 14:37b-38:  "If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.  If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized."

The command is (1 Co:14:27-33):  "If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.  But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God.  Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.  If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent.  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.  For God is not a God of confusion" (here the word is from "akatastasia"--i.e. "instability", "disorder", "confusion", "commotion", "tumult", "uproar", "crowd noise or babble") "but of peace."

He also said (1 Co 14:22)  "tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophesy is not for unbelievers but for believers."

From this it follows that:

1.if tongues are manifest it is because of unbelief,

2. if many are speaking in tongues all at once it is because they are disobedient to "a command of the Lord",

3.if they are speaking in tongues and no one gives the interpretation they are disobedient to "a command of the Lord",

4.and if they suddenly speak in tongues without any control over the occurance of the utterance God is not the source of it.

Tongues occurred in Acts 10:44-48 in the presence of believers who did not believe that the Holy Spirit could be poured out on Gentiles or that even Gentiles could be baptized.  This was a sign to those who hadn't believed it possible.

Tongues occurred in Acts 19:2-7 in the presence of those who had believed only in John's baptism of repentance and had never heard of the Holy Spirit.  This was a sign to those who hadn't believed in the Holy Spirit.

The First Epistle of John states (4:1)  "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Most Baptists believe that tongues, visions, apparitions of angels and saints are not from God and are not to be believed, taking St. Paul's counsel in 2 Corinthians 11:14: "even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"; and in Colossians 2:18-19a:  "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head"; and in Galatians 1:8:  "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed."

NOTE:  The Catholic Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 66) does not require any belief in tongues or prophesies outside of the Bible.

Bible texts quoted from the RSVCE.